These were the lyrics of the song sung in our church this past Sunday. They were written 55 years ago by Bob Dylan. The Vietnam War was building to a tragedy greater
than anyone could foresee. And the Civil Rights movement was moving from one violent encounter after another as women, men and children fought for Freedom long denied.
As I heard this song, played beautifully by Jean Dowell and her partner, on Sunday it hit me.
The challenge; the opportunity!
Virtually every single line of this inspiring and demanding poem pertains to today, just as it did 55 years ago.
Please read on....
Blowing in the Wind
Bob Dylan, 1962
How many roads must a man walk down
Before you can call him a man? Yes, ‘n how many seas must a white
Dove sail before she sleeps in the sand? Yes, ‘n how many times
Must the cannonballs fly before they’re forever banned?
Chorus
The answer my friend is blowing in the wind
The answer is blowing in the wind
How many years can a mountain exist before it is washed to the sea?
Yes, ‘n how many years can some people exist before they’re allowed to be free?
Yes, ‘n how many times can a man turn his head and pretend he just doesn’t see?
How many times must a man look up before he sees the sky?
Yes, ‘n how many ears must one man have before he hears people cry?
Yes, ‘n how many deaths will it take till he knows that too many people have died?
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Every one of these lines discloses a challenge we face today:
Our global environment eroding;
Millions of refugees crying;
Millions of people unfree..from poverty, drugs, violence, poor health, discrimination human trafficking.
Millions of people dying..in Syria; Sudan,;Yemen,; Ukraine; St.Petersburg, Russia; and the streets of our cities, including mine, Cincinnati.
As Bob Dylan might cry out today: How many years will it be before we act to help those whose lives we can touch be Free? If not we, who? If not now, when?
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